The Teesdale Transmission

The host of a radio breakfast show in Teesdale, North-East England, made his audience listen to an hour of taped music by accident.

Andy Greener, a former police officer and volunteer at Radio Teesdale, hosted his radio show where he thought he was discussing current events that day. However, his audience were actually listening to easy listening music which was normally broadcast overnight. Greener had forgotten to turn off the music.

People rang to complain, however Greener thought that the calls came from appreciative listeners, and planned to call them back after when he had a break. When he finally did pick up the phone, it was Radio Teesdale station manager Peter Dixon who said, "Andy, for God's sake press the red button."

When Greener came on air he said to his listeners, "Oh, what a dreadful mistake. I've been doing the show three days a week for 10 months and always pressed the button at the right moment. Goodness knows why I forgot this time."

Greener later said, "I'm sure some listeners will now make fun of me and colleagues will pull my leg, but it was my own fault and I'll have to take it on the chin. All I can do is say sorry and promise it won't happen again."

Radio Teesdale broadcasts to around 25,000 people, from Stockton-on-Tees to the Pennine summit.

Story from The Guardian